sheepdog

or sheep dog

[ sheep-dawg, -dog ]

noun

1. a dog trained to herd and guard sheep.

sheepdog

/ ˈʃiːpˌdɒɡ /

noun

1. See Border collie
   Also calledshepherd dog a dog used for herding sheep See Border collie
2. See Shetland sheepdog, Old English sheepdog
   any of various breeds of dog reared originally for herding sheep See Old English sheepdog Shetland sheepdog

Word History and Origins

Origin of sheepdog¹

First recorded in 1765–75; sheep + dog

Example Sentences

Raising a good sheepdog is about building trust between the dog and the handler, Caldicott says.

From Time

Grossman has a name for the kind of person who sees the gun as protector in the opening thought experiment: sheepdog.

From The Daily Beast

But Grossman would say that all I am doing is leaving the sheepdog burden for others, that I am choosing to live in denial.

From The Daily Beast

The mop-haired pup, Beast, is a type of Hungarian sheepdog and frequently posts pictures and insight into his family life.

From The Daily Beast

A young sheepdog appeared, but when it saw him it turned tail and slunk away as if it were afraid of him.

From Project Gutenberg

She works her way out like a sheepdog working his way out of a flock of sheep, or like a boat through pack-ice.

From Project Gutenberg

I sit there with my beer in my hand and think about it for a while, while Hotlips looks at me like a lost sheepdog.

From Project Gutenberg

My comment on this story was that the farmer had displayed an almost incredible ignorance of a sheepdog—and a shepherd.

From Project Gutenberg

Then sometimes you find all predictions upset, and all the big dogs beaten by a greyhound or an Old English sheepdog.

From Project Gutenberg